The Vancouver Canucks returned home after their 6-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night. After the disappointing loss, the club was given the day off. However, they were back on the ice Thursday morning ahead of their game against the Los Angeles Kings.
In their latest game, JT Miller played just 14:37 minutes of ice time, which was the fourth lowest among Canucks forwards, ahead of only Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Phil Di Giuseppe and Danton Heinen.
Miller met with the media after Thursday’s morning skate and claimed he did not know why his ice time has dropped but is self-aware of his play on the ice:
“I don’t know,” says J.T. Miller when asked why his ice-time trended downwards on the road trip.
“Probably could play a little better, I don’t know.”#Canucks
— Noah Strang (@noahstrang_) January 16, 2025
Miller has seen his ice time fall off this season. Throughout his first four years in Vancouver, Miller averaged over 20 minutes of ice time per game. Last season, he saw a small dip to averaging 19:29 minutes per game. However, this season is much lower, averaging just 17:57 minutes per game.
Over the previous five-game road trip for the Canucks, Miller played 14:37 against the Winnipeg Jets, 13:22 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, 17:36 against the Carolina Hurricanes, 19:33 against the Washington Capitals (overtime) and 18:37 against the Montreal Canadiens (overtime). Since his four-point night against the Canadiens, Miller has gone pointless in four straight.
The 6’1″ centreman looked hobbled, injuring his shoulder at some point on the road trip. However, both he and head coach Rick Tocchet stated that Miller is not hurt but understands he needs to play better:
"No, he's not hurt," says Rick Tocchet on J.T. Miller.
"We're playing more four lines and I think it's helped our team adjust, not giving the other team as many shots, trying to stay in the game. He wants to play better, he knows it." #Canucks
— Noah Strang (@noahstrang_) January 16, 2025
The Ohio native has played 33 games this season, scoring eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points with 67 shots on goal and 74 hits with a minus-four rating. He currently sits in a three-way tie with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk for third on the team in scoring, trailing Quinn Hughes (47) and Conor Garland (30).
Miller is coming off a career year in 2023-24, where he scored 37 goals and 66 assists for 103 points, leading the team in that regard.
Tocchet shuffled up his lines again ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Kings, now having Miller reunite with Brock Boeser, with Phil Di Giuseppe playing on their left. The Canucks are hoping that’s the spark Miller needs to get going offensively again.
